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The star of the show…
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Tag Archives: camera capers
Blog the Change for Animals: Helping pets through photography
For this edition of Blog the Change, I decided to write about a subject that’s near and dear to my heart – shelter pet photography. I’ve written about this subject often over the past few months, but I feel like it’s a message that just can’t be shared enough. Better photos help shelter pets find homes… period.
Today, I want to tell you about a nonprofit called Second Chance Photos. This great organization aims to help shelter pets through photography by encouraging people to donate their time to take personalized photos of animals in need of a forever home. The founder, professional photographer Seth Casteel, does more than just encourage – he even teaches workshops to help aspiring shelter pet photographers get started. I attended one, and it was great!
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| Shameless plug – adopt Ernie! |
The right photo really can make a difference – check out some of these before and after photos and see for yourself.
Do you have a camera and love to take photos of your own pet? Turn that hobby into a volunteer opportunity! I contacted several local shelters, and ended up going to take photos for one of them in the fall. (Don’t be discouraged if it takes a little while to get your foot in the door or find a shelter who is interested in your services – I’m heading back to the shelter soon for general volunteer training, and hope to take more photos for them soon.)
I’ve rounded up some info to help you get started. Check out the links below:
- The Second Chance Photos website, which includes tips for getting started and a wealth of other information.
- A list of upcoming Second Chance Photos workshops – maybe there’s one in your area! (If you’re wondering what it’s like to attend a workshop and interested in some tips, you can read my recap here.)
- Even if there’s not a workshop near you, don’t worry! Here’s a PDF full of tips from Second Chance Photos to get you started. It covers everything from approaching shelters to taking photos and beyond.
- For more info, you can keep up with Second Chance Photos on Facebook and Twitter.
- Here are some more inspiring photos – don’t you just want to adopt them all?
- I recently interviewed Seth Casteel of Second Chance Photos – to learn how he got started and pick up a few tips, click here (Part I) and here (Part II).
Have you ever taken photos for a shelter before? Are you considering giving it a try? Go for it – you’ll be glad you did!
I encourage you to visit the other great blogs participating in this event today- so many fantastic causes being highlighted. Check out the list after the jump!
Dogs of a feather flock together
I’m back again with more Daily Dog Challenge photos. It’s so fun to come up with photos that respond to the daily prompts.
Since I’ve been engaging in plenty of navel gazing this week, today’s photos follow on that theme. Although you won’t find any pictures of navels (if I’m being honest, I find bellybuttons gross – no offense, Koly), today’s photos are inspired by the reflective mood that happens as we transition from one year to the next.
Up first, the photo below was in response to the prompt: “Take a photo that signifies a great memory you have with your dog this year.”
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The photo in the photo (how meta) is actually from several years ago. However, I have to admit that giving Bella a bath has resulted in some of my favorite memories over the years. I know she’s not a big fan, but she’s always such a goofball once it’s over that I just have to smile.
The next prompt: “As we get ready to celebrate the New Year, show us your dog being a party animal!”
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Bet Bella wishes I hadn’t picked up this boa to wear to our Clue-themed New Year’s Eve party!
You can see all of the photos submitted as part of the DDC here. Enjoy!
Interview with Seth Casteel from Second Chance Photos: Part II
I’m so excited to bring you the second installment of my interview with Seth Casteel, the founder of Second Chance Photos. Through this nonprofit, Seth aims to help shelter pets find homes through photography. In today’s installment, Seth talks about lighting, his favorite moment as a pet photographer, and how you can save lives using your camera.
If you haven’t read Part I yet, I recommend you click here and check it out before diving into Part II. Read on for the rest of Part II…
It’s amazing what a difference the right photo can make – you can see it for yourself in the before and after photos on the Second Chance Photos website. When a potential adopter sees a photo of a shelter pet, we want them to start visualizing the relationship that they could have. As Pamela from Something Wagging astutely pointed out in the (very thoughtful) comments last week, it’s all about emotion. Don’t be intimidated by the technical side of photography – as Seth points out, you don’t have to be a professional to donate your time and skills to help shelter pets this way.
Let’s talk about lighting. What lighting is best? How do you deal with situations where the lighting is not ideal?
A very simple question with a complicated answer. My best advice about lighting is to experiment by shooting many photos in many different lighting scenarios. For classic portraits, I prefer cloudy days or the shade though.
Some of my readers asked about videos vs. photos. Do you think videos of shelter pets are useful?
Absolutely. Any positive images, either photo or video, help increase the chances of adoption.
What was your all-time favorite shoot?
Not a fair question!! 🙂 I have enjoyed every single photo shoot I have done for different reasons. If I have to pick at this very second, I would say an Afghan Hound I met in New York City by chance while waiting for another client. I met this dog for only 3 minutes and did a quick series of photos of him. One of these resulting photos has become one of my favorites because it showcases an expression that I can’t seem to figure out. This is what I love about dogs. They have such an amazing range of emotions and expressions, and in a lot of ways, are just like people. This is why we relate to them and this is why I have dedicated my life to them.
What has been your most rewarding or most memorable experience photographing shelter pets?
To know the work is making a difference. I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to help. Not only are photos saving lives, but they are helping to change the image of “shelter pets”, revealing to people that they are wonderful pets and make loving additions to your family.
If you could offer one piece of advice to someone who would like to start volunteering as a shelter pet photographer, what would it be?
The work you do will save lives. It may not always be easy, but shelter pets need your help. Be patient. Be dedicated. Shelter pets do not have a voice, but you can give them one.
A bit off topic, but I always like to end with a pop culture question. What’s your favorite TV show?
I don’t watch much TV, but I would say DEAL or NO DEAL! It’s just so exciting!! No deal!!!! 🙂
Thanks again to Seth for answering my questions!
If you have any additional questions for Seth, please share them in the comments. I’ll pass them along and see if he is available to answer them. Has Seth inspired you to get involved?
The eyes (and ears) have it
You may remember that I mentioned I’m part of the Daily Dog Challenge group on Flickr. There’s a new prompt each day for inspiration. I thought I’d share a few recent shots I’ve posted for the various daily challenges in December.
Up first, the photo below was in response to the prompt: “Make a photograph with your dog that captures your idea of beauty today.”
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That one was easy – who could resist those eyes?
After the jump, find more photos for your viewing pleasure…
Another prompt from the holiday season: “However you and your dog choose to celebrate today, share it with us, and enjoy the day!”
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Roscoe chose to celebrate with a nice nap.
This next one is a bit more abstract. The prompt: Take a high contrast photo of your dog today! Whether you use a background or some kind of photo enhancement, remember to have fun with it!”
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I don’t think I’ll ever tire of taking photos of Bella’s ear. Is that weird?
I have a few more from December to share… but I’ll save those for next week’s Wordless Wednesday. Have to keep you wanting more, right?
You can see all of the photos submitted as part of the DDC here. Enjoy!
Interview with Seth Casteel from Second Chance Photos: Part I
As you may remember, last month I attended a fantastic workshop by Seth Casteel, the founder of Second Chance Photos. Second Chance Photos is a non-profit that is dedicated to helping shelter pets find homes through photography. A good photograph can make the difference in the life of a homeless animal – better photos help animals find homes.
After the workshop, I emailed Seth to see if he’d be willing to do an interview for my blog. He graciously agreed.
Below, you’ll find Part I of our email interview, which included a few questions from me as well as some from you. Today, learn about how Seth got started as a photographer, how he started working with shelter pets, and some practical tips. I’ll be sharing Part II of the interview next week.
How did you get started as a pet photographer?
I’ve always loved animals and photography, but two things in my life launched this new career path. I adopted a dog from the local shelter and started taking snapshots of her for fun. I really enjoyed the unique challenge of working with dogs as well as the rewards of capturing a special moment – a glimpse of her personality. About the same time, I heard about some kittens that were found on the movie studio lot where I worked. The kittens needed to find forever homes so I volunteered to photograph them to help catch the attention of potential adopters. All of the kittens found homes. From there, I began volunteering at the local shelter. Then landed a private client. Landed a magazine cover from that first private client shoot. And then wheeeeeeeeeeeee.
How did that work lead you to taking photos of shelter pets?
Shelter pets started it all. When I first started volunteering, I didn’t realize pet photography would become my career though. It was a nice surprise!
What is the biggest difference you find between shooting rescue and non-rescue dogs? Have you found that certain types of dogs are easier to photograph?
Zero difference. I’ve worked with thousands of dogs – a wide range of breeds, ages, backgrounds and personality-types. Some of the most photogenic and cooperative dogs have been shelter dogs and some of the most challenging “models” have been pets with homes. You just never know. 🙂
What do you think makes a dog more photogenic?
There is a great picture for every dog – you just have to find a way to figure out what that picture is.
Do you have any tips for taking photos of “ugly” dogs or dogs that may not be quite as cute on the surface? (I admit, this one’s not from me – I have puppy blindness and think all dogs are cute.)
Both photography and the appearance of dogs are subjective – so it really depends on who is viewing the photos. The key to any good dog photograph is emotion. If you can capture emotion in a photo, no matter what the subject looks like, you’ve got a winning shot that people can relate to.
Do you have any tips for handling a photo shoot with a fearful dog?
Patience. If you try to force a photo shoot on a fearful dog, the photos are going to be negative. Try to understand what the fear is – the camera? you? the world? At some point, you may just have to put on a long lens and hide in the bushes. 🙂
It’s both refreshing and inspiring to talk to Seth… I can’t wait to share Part II of the interview with you next week! Stay tuned (and if you have any additional questions for Seth, please feel free to share them in the comments).
Oh, and don’t mind Bella… she thinks she’s some sort of hotshot reporter now that we’ve scored this interview.
Bella’s 2011 Holiday Tip… revealed!
Drumroll, please… you made your guesses last week, and now it’s time to reveal Bella’s 2011 Holiday Tip!
This face greets you on the front of the card:
Happy holidays!
Inside, you get another dose of Bella and this year’s tip:
Bella Holiday Tip #11
Even if you look good in antlers, you probably won’t be invited to join in the Reindeer Games. Take a nap instead.
Even if you look good in antlers, you probably won’t be invited to join in the Reindeer Games. Take a nap instead.
Finally, Bella leaves you with some additional advice on the back of the card:
It’s important to practice your landings.
Can you guess Bella’s holiday tip?
It will probably not surprise you to learn that Bella is always the star of my holiday cards. You may remember that Bella is also full of holiday wisdom – as usual, she’ll be sharing a Bella Holiday Tip this year.
I’m not quite ready to reveal this year’s photos and tip – if I did, it wouldn’t be a surprise when people open their mailboxes! However, today I’m sharing a few photos from our holiday photo shoot. (I took over 155 photos that day – so this will probably not be the last of them I share with you.)
Think you can guess Bella’s 2011 holiday tip? (Hint: it involves antlers.) Give it your best shot in the comments!
A paw in the hand is worth two in the grass
Please excuse the tortured saying in today’s post title. I wanted to share a few photos I shot as part of the Daily Dog Challenge group on Flickr (created by our pals at Tales and Tails and BZ Training), and my brain apparently decided to stop working properly.
Anyway, the Daily Dog Challenge is pretty fun… there are daily prompts that encourage you to take photos of your furry friend. It’s a great way to get your creative juices flowing while working on your photography skills. (After all, practice makes perfect).
For example, I took the photo below in response to this prompt: “Take a photo today that shows a paw in a hand.”
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Bella doesn’t really like when people mess with her paws… so I took a rather liberal interpretation of the “hand” part of things. Want to see what other photographers did with this prompt? Check it out!
Another recent prompt was: “How does your dog react to his reflection? Show us today with a photo!” I submitted the shot below:
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There were a lot of great photos submitted for this one.
As you can tell, I’ve been experimenting with the mood of my photos lately – these photos were taken with customized settings to create an amber glow. (Camera settings – and great Nikon D7000 user’s guide – courtesy of Ken Rockwell. If you want to learn more about photography, check out Mr. Rockwell’s site – you’ll find user’s guides for a variety of cameras as well as some fantastic tips.)
For good measure, here’s one shot outside with a different feel, shot in response to the prompt: “Around the world, the seasons are different. Take a picture today that shows us what it’s like in your corner of the world!”
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You can see the other photos submitted in response to this prompt here.
Feel free to check out my other submissions here, or visit the group pool to see what others have submitted. I don’t manage to keep up with every challenge, but I really enjoy it!
Sounds like fun right? If you’re interested in joining the Daily Dog Challenge, go here to learn more.
I like big mutts and I cannot lie…
First off, happy National Mutt Day! I’d like to dedicate today’s post to all of the awesome mutts out there, including my own. (Considering adopting your own mutt? Check out a really cool way to announce it and help other shelter pets, courtesy of Bocci’s Beefs.)
Now, back to your regularly scheduled linkage:
- Your punny pet name: Johann Sebastian Bark. (Also, this week’s award for awesome punnage goes to… Goatzart.)
- It seems that one local law school has taken a cue from the extremely awesome TV show Community – George Mason University has enlisted some cuddly puppies from a local rescue group to help law students relax during exams. (Perhaps they got the idea from Yale, but in my mind the administrators are just big Community fans.)
- Speaking of TV, I really enjoy that the worried dog from that insurance commercial is starring in a happier commercial.
- So, has anyone seen the new Muppets movie yet? I really want to see it this weekend. After all, I can’t wait to see the next stage in Ms. Piggy’s style evolution.
- This next video has the perfect soundtrack… and it made me giggle, alot (typo intentional).
- I think we can all agree that dogs are cute. (If not, how did you end up reading this blog? Go watch this video and then come back.) Today, let’s also appreciate some cute from off the beaten path.
- Um… on a related note, hedgehog bathtime is awesome.
I think this week’s video really ties it all together…
(via Paw Nation)
You know, I had to give Bella a bath last week in preparation for her holiday photo shoot. Why couldn’t she be into it like that guy?
I’ve been battling a sinus infection this week – however, new research shows that the doctor should prescribe a glass of wine and a bubble bath. Now that’s medicine I can get behind. (See how it all relates? My mind works in odd ways.)
Don’t forget – if you have any questions that you’d like to ask a professional pet photographer who also photographs shelter pets, send them my way. I hope to have some answers for you in the near future.
Have a great weekend!